FARGO – Brad Wimmer called for a changing of the guard – and a focus that includes but expands beyond flood control – as he officially announced his bid for mayor at the Fargo Theatre on Thursday morning.
The Fargo city commissioner is challenging two-term incumbent Dennis Walaker, a friend of Wimmer’s who he had previously said he wouldn’t run against in the mayoral race.
Eight years ago, Walaker was elected mayor, and Wimmer and Tim Mahoney started their first terms on the commission. Instead of running for a third term on the commission, Wimmer said he was encouraged to run for mayor and bring new energy into the city.
“I think we need to bring some new people into the city leadership,” he said.
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Wimmer insisted he wasn’t really “running against” his longtime colleague, but offering voters a new choice. In December, Wimmer said he intended to run again for his City Commission seat and said having Walaker as mayor was “good for all of us.”
Wimmer said his perspective has changed since then.
“(Walaker) was right for the time,” he said. “I think I’m right for the time now.”
